Big news before Game 2: Carey Price out for the series; Brassard looks doubtful

The Montreal Canadiens are saying that No. 1 goalie Carey Price is out for the remainder of the series after that collision with Chris Kreider in Game 1 Saturday. Price appeared to have suffered a knee injury when Kreider, who looked to have been tripped, slid into him.

There is speculation that rookie Dustin Tokarski will get the nod in goal instead of backup Peter Budaj, who was shelled after Price left Game 1.

Of course the Habs, and some of their media, believe that Kreider was not tripped and that he “accidentally on purpose” ran Price, so naturally Kreider will be a villain the rest of the series and will probably have to keep his head up, especially any time a lead gets large either way.

On the Rangers front, Derick Brassard was on the ice for the morning skate, but did not take part in the power play drills or line rushes. Dominic Moore skated in his spot between Mats Zuccarello and Benoit Pouliot, and Brian Boyle slid over to fourth-line center between Derek Dorsett and Daniel Carcillo … and it certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea to have both of those guys in the lineup if there really will be Kreider hunting going on.

462 Comments

I like that Gulitti is helping Gross cover this series. No offense to Gross, but Gulitti is a much, MUCH better reporter. It’s not even a slight on gross. Gulitti is just one of the best in the business.

Carp, since Gulitti seems to be covering the Rangers right now, can you add him to Waseka for the remainder for the rest of the playoffs?

Prust is also playing *injured* (shocker). So he’s not going to do much. Emelin can really drill someone in open ice. Weaver can play dirty but can’t fight. So unless they put White in I don’t think they have the weapons to fight it up.

This sounds like the same type of crap as the Adam Graves slash on Mario Lemieux incident. No way is THE trying to run Price there. How do you judge what a signficant whack/push can do when flying in at full speed?

I’m not worried about Lundqvist at all. They don’t have the players to run him in any meaningful way, unless it’s a guy like Paccioretty. Otherwise, you’re looking at a shrimp like Gallagher crashing the net. I’m discounting Prust and Weise because I just don’t think they will be good enough to get a legit shot in front of our goal.

I’m much more concerned with team discipline. They’re going to hack, slash, and do a lot of pestering after the whistle.

If Dubinsky were still on the team, I’d book him for at least 2 minors tonight.

Let Montreal and their passionately pathetic phans get riled, roiled and overwrought. Our boys will play with their heads and hearts in the right place led by a calm, cool and controlled coaching staff.

Regardless of who’s in or out of our lineup or theirs, every game will be competitive and a challenge to be endured and overcome.

Let Montreal get wired about THE. They have no answer for him and now have an excuse to explain their imminent collapse.

it’s destiny at least to get to the cup, don’t know about winning cup but when in the 1st round the starting goalie is injured for the opposing team and misses the first 3 games and than face a goalie who hadn’t been good in playoffs for a few years and now price out for the series, it helps to make the path easier.

If you’re blaming the hit on his skate, then, at best, he did it accidentally on purpose. He leads with the skate that was hit. Sorry, but if you get your skate hit in a way that makes you fall, there’s no way that you can then balance on one leg and swing it forward to lead with it while you fall.

If you don’t blame it on that, saying that he was coming in fast and lost his edge, then that’s a different story. But honestly, the more I watch it, the more it looks like to me that he was never going to make any effort to avoid Price. He gets the shot away, then falls, skates first. Falling was his effort not to just completely bullrush Price.

He went in, full speed at the goal. What other result could there ever have been besides a collision?

In watching the reply of the play, I really don’t see how Kreider could have avoided contact with Price after having his right skate slashed and knocked off balance.

It’s a tough blow for Montreal to lose your goaltender and I can see how this could be a rallying cry for the Habs, although I don’t see how it last more than one game.

I don’t agree with the accusations Kreider did this intentionally, in fact I place most of the blame on the Habs defenseman who slashed his ankle. If Kreider had not gone in skates first he would have have seriously injured himself by running full force into the net (and Price).

I fully expect the Habs to take out their frustrations tonight by running Lundqvist and will most likely go after Kreider. it will be interesting to see how Kreider handles this.

My thoughts on their series was after the Boston, Philly and Pittsburgh series’, there was a lot of “hate”, this series not so much. Two teams who play similar styles and don’t have a recent history of any dustups.

That’s all gone now. There will be plenty of it tonight. And the series is now on.

@Dave Stubbs in the side bar – oh, you don’t see that stick that whacked his ankle/skate in slow motion? Watch THE’s right leg after he gets whacked in the skate/ankle, how it’s in an awkward position, forcing him to attempt stop on a single skate.

The Habs shouldn’t give up so many breakaways to gigantic players then. The only result of a large, power forward crashing the net with a player backchecking from behind is a bunch of guys slamming into the net.

I agree with Gravy. Maybe we should ask Lloyd since he played Juniors and all.

I know some of you are going to start the “I played and blah blah blah” but you don’t skate like Kreider or play like him (if you did you would be in the NHL).

He’s FLYING at the goal and his skates get in front of him as he’s leaning back to rip a shot. He is clearly off balance.

A lot went wrong that led to Price’s injury. Sure, Kreider has crashed the net before and hurt goaltenders before. He also has a bit of a mean streak. Kind of like a spoiled child. But it’s hockey and that’s OK.

The Habs watch tape. They know who he is. Don’t let him get in behind you if that’s the case!

On the subject of them running THE Kreider – are any of the Habs big enough to challenge him?
Lets remember he is 6’3″ 230lbs – its not like one of them going after MSL or Zuke. Plus anyone remember how he basically held Phaneuf at bay and dumped him on his keister? Phaneuf is 6’3″ 220 lbs
Prust is 6’0″ (on his tiptoes) and 195 lbs.

I’d only be worried if Parros was out there – i think THE will be just fine

Stranger, if he goes down right when he was hit in the skate without taking the shot, it probably would have been. But he stayed on his skates, shot, then fell. That’s not even a tripping penalty.

Gravy, I’ve considered that, but it looks like he’s off the ice the moment the puck leaves his stick, and his right leg is still behind him at that point. The one thing I’ll give you on that point is that he turns his left skate inward as if the intent is to stop, with at best, a very heavy snow shower for Price (not that there’s anything wrong with that). But at that speed, I just don’t see how he was ever going to be able to stop without contact.

Manny, I’m not saying he should have avoided the contact. That’s my whole point. He was always going to make contact. That’s why I’m saying it was accidentally on purpose. He’s not lowering his shoulder and running through Price, but there was always going to be a collision.

Tommy, I’m sure his hands are already being wrapped with padding every single game. He was not 100% when he came back. As Carp noted several times, every time he receives a hard pass or the puck hits his stick too hard, that hand comes off the stick.

I know it’s hard to ever have confidence as a Ranger fan, but win tonight and I am pretty darn confident they get this done. This really feels like a huge game to determine how long this series will go.

leave it to the French Canadians to make a big deal out of Kreider hurting price. Why isn’t the media talking about how Weavers body check on Brassard was late and borderline dirty. Weaver hit Brassard when puck was well gone from Brassard’s stick and the reason Brassard wasn’t looking when Weaver took full advantage of the hit. It was borderline predatorial.

Kreider’s right leg was clearly hit by Emelin’s stick. You can see his leg go up in the air after it is hit and then he is on one leg and loses balance. Total Bull that he did it intentionally!

But, this worries me. This is no longer a manufactured rally point. If Henrik was injured, by an opposing player (whether it was intentional or not) I think it is safe to say we would be going wild and the team would rally around that.

I am concerned that this will fire them up. I am concerned that they will not play very tight defensively because they know they have to protect the goalie. I can only hope that we react as they did to Tampa Bay who was without Ben Bishop!

Of course the Canadiens are going to try and say Kreider was dirty. They HAVE to. They are in serious trouble now and unless the team rallies around something, and continues to ride that emotion, they know they have a small chance of winning.

“Looking at the incident, it’s a reckless play. That’s the truth. And Kreider, that’s not the first time he’s going at goalies. So we end up losing our best player, but our group faced a lot of adversity throughout the course of the season. We have the attitude to respond really well and that’s what I’m expecting, starting tonight.”

-Michelle Therien

Does Kreider have a history of this stuff? I wasn’t aware of it. Does he mean the hit on Fluery where he was pushed from behind?

@Dave Stubbs in the side bar – oh, you don’t see that stick that whacked his ankle/skate in slow motion? Watch THE’s right leg after he gets whacked in the skate/ankle, how it’s in an awkward position, forcing him to attempt stop on a single skate.

Mister D, did you call him Bork because A) you had a mental processing error once and interpreted Sam Rosen’s pronunciation of “Bourque” as “Bork” B) you read my post relaying that exact experience or C) you were trying to be silly?

I’ll add this to the THE convo… having played the game I can tell you it takes the tiniest fraction of a sec to lose your balance with no chance of regaining it, especially when moving as fast as THE was. Also, THE was completely focused on getting the puck past Price as he had already beaten both defenders. Switching his focus from shooting to unexpectedly falling to colliding and trying to lessen the collision was/is virtually impossible.

Guys: I will tell you this. After never playing ORGANIZED hockey due to a heart condition.

The other day I was riding the Subway and at the exact moment I went to turn the page in my book (Lord of the Rings) the train bounced and I lost my balance, in a split second, and fell backwards onto a number of nice people just trying to ride the train home.

I love how Prust is saying THE deliberately injured Price, when he took a pretty good chop at THE’s left hand…you know the one that was just surgically repaired. That looks like intent to injure to me, Brandon.

i don’t think anyone “wished for” price to get hurt
but
i think everyone is now worried about the usual Rangers letdown against a non-starter goalie making him look like an allstar
and
playing more like pens series game 4 than game 5

Budaj is enough of a pro that if Tokarski struggles, I think they can still go back to him. It’s not like Budaj is normally a starter in his own right, like with Hiller vs Anderson/Gibson in Anaheim. Budaj has that backup’s mentality where he can step in at any point and be ready.

THE Kreider’s explosiveness is incredible right now. I still think Hagelin has a slightly faster top speed, but THE Kreider has like 50 pounds on him. Anybody that stands in his way at that speed is getting hurt, period.

Gaborik could also really control the puck and have a lightning release while at that speed. He was so lethal. THE Kreider can only just tap it to keep it in front of him at this point. Which is fine when there’s nobody else between you and the goaltender because you’ve blown past the defense.

So net-net: We had our best defense-man out until the POs started and are most dynamic first line power forward out for the first 10 PO games. Now we are back at full strength.
McD is back and playing like the stud muffin he is
THE has made such an impact that he is in the other team’s head after one game.
Blueshirt express is rolling. Don’t be scared. Fear is the enemy.

_This year, the Rangers’ only major contributors over 3018 are Henrik Lundqvist, 31, and Brad Richards, 33. And the team’s recent draft classes have supplied the Rangers with a host of talented youngsters such as Derek Stepan, Michael Del Zotto, Chris Kreider and Carl Hagelin. (Undrafted free-agent gems like Mats Zuccarello help, too.)_

Dominic Moore? MSL?

_Despite all of those caveats, it’s notable that one of these two teams is guaranteed a place in the final. Each lost its way during the previous decade, but by successfully rebuilding through the draft and not throwing good money after bad, they’ve provided a road map for once-proud franchises to get back on the path to the Stanley Cup._

In 1992 The Penguins used Mario going out for series after Graves slash as inspiration to come from behind and beat Rangers. If the Habs were emotionally let down after Bruins series and Game 1 this is how they get emotion back.

disappointed that Price is out. want to beat the best. Kreider was a little reckless on the play, but he also had help in crashing into Price. this will only be a story for 1 game, or less. the Habs need to play hockey to win. chasing Kreider around will not help them. Galchenyuk will help them.

Would you suggest that Rangers wait for him to recover before resuming the series? I don’t wish injury on another athlete, but it’s part of sports. It makes no difference to me whether Montréal lose with or without Price. I welcome any advantage I can get. No disappointment here!

>>>In 1992 The Penguins used Mario going out for series >>>after Graves slash as inspiration to come from behind >>>and beat Rangers. If the Habs were emotionally let >>>down after Bruins series and Game 1 this is how they >>>get emotion back.

Unless Hank is going to allow a goal on a shot from outside the blue line, this is all apples and oranges.

The sharp betting angles point to Montreal winning, tonight. First, the humiliation of the lopsided defeat in front of their home crowd in game one is motivation enough.

Second, the loss of their goaltender rallies this Montreal team together. You are going to see a highly coordinated and focused Montreal team, tonight. Plus, teams experiencing a major injury are always a solid angle bet, first time out after that happens. Seems they get more out of their players than usual in the face of adversity.

Third, the Rangers figure to be over-confident and sloppy tonight, given the two above-mentioned factors. Also, we know Hank and the Rangers play much better from behind in a series, than as front-runners.

So I like Montreal to get the money (both teams are currently at -110), tonight, BUT, as a Ranger fan I have to say, IF the Rangers can overcome all of Montreal’s motivation and win this game – well, this could become a SHORT series.

A lot at stake here, tonight. We grab the inside track to the Finals with a win tonight, and could get there as the more rested team, BUT, it might seem like our boys are skating uphill most of the night, too.

This is going to be the pivotal game of this series. Whoever expects the Montreal Canadiens to roll over and die in the face of a little adversity in the Stanley Cup playoffs is new to all of this.

Congrats to the Rangers for setting up Rangertown at MSG. I picked up my daughter from college yesterday and happened to be there so we went in and had a blast. All free, interactive games, pictures, Duguay and Greshner were there, kind of cool.

The nicest thing is that I was able to be with my kid and goof around and have a great time. We made a nice memory.

Manny – I just checked, 4:56 pm, at http://www.vegasinsider.com. Rangers and Canadiens are still a “push,” both still at -110 = putting up $110 to win back $210 gross, $100 net profit for picking the winning team.

The fact that the Rangers are not favored with the Montreal starting goalie out of action, tells me the Books think Montreal is a “live” play, in this game.

Here is a scenario that could really help the Rangers chances…If some Montreal goon goes one-on-one and Kreider puts him out of commission, well, I have never seen it fail to happen – the team with the player winning a one-sided fight gets a real boost from this, and it is reflected in their play from then on.

I’m AV, I tell Kreider, “Why wait? Go at it with someone and make a big statement for yourself and the team.”

Basically this situation shows that the NHL, the NHL media, and the their network are Montreal Canadien cronies. Its bush-league.

They are so desperate and upset because their goalie was injured that they are pulling out all the cards and creating a controversy to

1) Get in the players heads, hoping to make them start worrying about retaliation etc etc etc.
2) They are trying to mindscrew their own players in getting amped up over it.
3) They are hoping it effects the way the Refs call the game.
4) That Kreider is penalized for playing on the edge, or that he will back off himself bc of all the media buzz.

Its pathetic and its obvious and its not gonna make a difference.

But you get a glimpse at what a bunch of turds there are in prominent places in the NHL.

There was no complaint about the play until after Price was determined to have a serious injury, which the trainer and medical staff evidently figured out between periods. The business of Kreider crashing into Price on purpose is completely fabricated, in order to motivate the team I suppose, and a lame effort at motivation if ever their was one. Nobody who’s played the game thinks it was anything but what it was. On a breakaway, defenders need to be careful not to trip, unless they want an outcome like the one we’ve just seen. Putting in the rookie goalie makes sense — it will encourage some strong team defense by the home team, which should make it easier for the Rangers to defend as well.

Enough of this nonsense about Kreider running Carey Price. As we all watched Kreider slide into the goal–and into Price–didn’t it occur to folks, especially the crowd in Montreal, that Kreider could easily have wound up like Stamkos did earlier this year when he broke his leg with a similar fall and slide? Enough already!

Prust’s comment about “accidentally on purpose” and “we’re in the NHL, we all know how to fall” supports my hypothesis that too many head shots to a middleweight farm boy from Canada can make the boy a little loopy.

This is how NYR can prove they’re a team that can seriously compete for the Cup. A team is playing their AHL starter in net. A guy with a handful of NHL games, and no NHL playoff experience. Big opportunity here. Show some killer instinct!